Does anyone else struggle with the tension between their faith and their homosexuality?

First, I know this is a touchy subject, so I want you to know I'm not trying to force my views on you. I am simply stating my views and hoping that there are others in my position who I can talk this out with. So please, let's try to keep this from becoming a shouting match where no one hears anyone but themselves.

So I believe in the God of the Bible and I believe that homosexuality is wrong, and yet, here I am on this site looking for I-know-not what. Once again, it bears repeating, I'm not trying to persuade anyone to believe as I do, I'm simply looking for others who share these beliefs. I'm willing go deeper into the details of why I believe what I believe, but I'd rather do it one-on-one. Thanks for your time.

Thom1993 saidHow do you manage to reconcile the two? Like do you worry about your faith when with a man etc?

I'm not a Christian but I am curious on this subject.

The two are irreconcilable, thus the tension. When I'm with someone I try not to think about my faith. That's about as helpful as putting a band-aid on a broken arm. As for the the other side, I believe God is merciful, that His mercies are new every morning. But I don't use that as an excuse to do whatever I want, yet I keep coming back to it like a dog to his vomit. Thanks for your question, it helped me clarify my thoughts a bit.

Someone does their research I wrote this profile out of a superficial desire...this topic refers to the depths of my soul. And I've always found it odd when people change churches based on such things. I go to the church I do because I believe they're right in their views, not because they believe what would be easier for me to believe.

Thom1993 saidHow do you manage to reconcile the two? Like do you worry about your faith when with a man etc?

I'm not a Christian but I am curious on this subject.

The two are irreconcilable, thus the tension. When I'm with someone I try not to think about my faith. That's about as helpful as putting a band-aid on a broken arm. As for the the other side, I believe God is merciful, that His mercies are new every morning. But I don't use that as an excuse to do whatever I want, yet I keep coming back to it like a dog to his vomit. Thanks for your question, it helped me clarify my thoughts a bit.

You don't sound like a real Christian. A real Christian follows the teaching of Jesus Christ and Jesus never said homosexuality was a sin. As a matter of fact, he said of the Roman soldier that came to him and asked him to cure his male lover of his illness, that had found not greater faith in all of Isreal. This put homosexuals above the reset of the self-rightous. You sound more like one of the Xristians that don't actually follow the teachings of Jesus, but instead follow the teaching of the books of Moses and Paul the minister that went around preaching the old covenant that God made with the people of Moses.

Well, you can make yourself miserable if you want but there's no real need to.

The bible is a big book, right? Now, if homosexuality was *really really really* important, how much space would you think it would take up in the bible? Anything even remotely resembling it is mentioned all of six times -- and the exact meanings and references of those references (from the original hebrew and greek) are debatable. No reference in the 10 commandments at all. No statement about loving same gender relationships at all.

So, even when I was a boy carrying a red-letter New Testament (KJV) around with me, I always had the suspicion it just wasn't as big a deal as people make it. If you eat shellfish, wear clothing made of mixed fibers and have sex with men, you're committing abominations. BFD.

Seriously, if you're going to think this through, watch this and if you don't understand it watch it several times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OiDrbipW34. The point is made quite clear, contemporary Christianity's view of homosexuality is not well informed theologically (is mostly just culturally engrained prejudice) and in need of serious revision. And don't think such revisions don't happen. They do. If they didn't we'd still own slaves and be stoning people to death.

LionEyes saidNot really. If you're in a religion that opt to follow a literal interpretation of the Bible or only follow what suits their bigotry you should have enough common sense to look into another church or religion. I'm not going to get into the depths of a religious debate here, only state that people should read more, look for more knowledge instead of hiding behind ignorance.

I don't choose a religion the same way I choose a barber. I'm not hiding behind ignorance, on the contrary, I'm trying to get out from behind it.

I don't agree that the christian message is homosexuality is wrong but that's another debate entirely. Just know you have my sympathy. I've felt sometimes being gay is incompatible with my life experience and how my brain was wired but ultimately I accept it as part of me now.

MikeW saidWell, you can make yourself miserable if you want but there's no real need to.

The bible is a big book, right? Now, if homosexuality was *really really really* important, how much space would you think it would take up in the bible?

Thanks for your input, I think you right about the ratio of its importance to the times it's mentioned, in a general sense. The Bible talks a lot more about caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, and looking out for widows. And I'm not miserable, his mercies are still new for me now, I believe that. And I will watch the video soon.

If you don't mind my asking, do you want to remain committed to believing homosexuality is a sin? Or are you looking for approval in God's eyes?

I believe that it's a sin. And yes I'm looking for approval in God's eyes, but thankfully, I don't believe that his approval of me depends on me, but on Jesus. Mercy is not getting what you deserve, Grace is getting more and better than you deserve. Grace abounds.

Thom1993 saidI don't agree that the christian message is homosexuality is wrong but that's another debate entirely. Just know you have my sympathy. I've felt sometimes being gay is incompatible with my life experience and how my brain was wired but ultimately I accept it as part of me now.

Thank you for being a perfect example of how to disagree with someone and still hear them.

Thom1993 saidI don't agree that the christian message is homosexuality is wrong but that's another debate entirely. Just know you have my sympathy. I've felt sometimes being gay is incompatible with my life experience and how my brain was wired but ultimately I accept it as part of me now.Thank you for being a perfect example of how to disagree with someone and still hear them. And I appreciate your sympathy.

gaychris88 saidI go to the church I do because I believe they're right in their views, not because they believe what would be easier for me to believe.

gaychris88 saidI'm not hiding behind ignorance, on the contrary, I'm trying to get out from behind it.

Well, if you are "believing" what people tell you without verifying that a) they know what they're talking about and b) they're telling you the truth, then you are and will remain ignorant.

There are only six passages in the whole bible that have to do with homosexual acts and NONE having to do with homosexual love. If this issue is as important to you as you claim, "this topic refers to the depths of my soul," then it is your responsibility to thoroughly understand this issue in the Light of the New Testament not merely the darkness of the Old. Hopefully, watching the video I linked to above will help with that endeavor.

There are only six passages in the whole bible that have to do with homosexual acts and NONE having to do with homosexual love. If this issue is as important to you as you claim, "this topic refers to the depths of my soul," then it is your responsibility to thoroughly understand this issue in the Light of the New Testament not merely the darkness of the Old. Hopefully, watching the video I linked to above will help with that endeavor.

I look at the Bible as an entire whole, Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Colossians 6:11 are clear to me.

The is what I posted on another christian thread. Obviously it's just my opinion though:

I don't necessarily believe in organised religion but regarding the bible its important to take the morals from the bible without paying too much attention to the out dated cultural references.

I studied religion at school and we would read parts of the bible and the whole class would have a different interpretation of what we had just read. That being said Christians or Christian leaders that are anti gay or advocate an anti gay mantra aren't homophobic because they are religious they're homophobic because they interpret their religion through their own narrow view points.